How to Stay Happy When You're Home for the Holidays

Photo by Oleg Zaicev from Pexels

This semester was one for the books, and just like that, it’s over. Even without pandemic-related stress, the transition from campus to hometown can be a difficult one. Here’s are six self-care tips to make the most out of your time at home.

Wake up while the sun is up

What’s one of college students’ favorite activities? Sleep. While sleeping in is tempting, especially without a daily agenda, try adjusting your morning schedule. Yes, clocking sleep hours is important, but any quantity of sleep is affected by its quality, and your circadian rhythm plays a big part in sleep quality. According to Healthline, “lacking a sleep schedule, eating, or drinking late at night, watching screens too close to bedtime,” can all disrupt your circadian rhythm. To get back on track, try to stick to a sleep routine where you generally wake when it’s light outside and wind down as night falls. This will improve your circadian rhythm, boost your mood, and increase happiness. 

Dress for success

Being at home, especially during a pandemic, makes it easy to wear comfy clothes around the clock. Similar to sleeping until noon, it can be tempting to stay in loungewear all day. According to psychology professor Abraham Rutchick, how we dress directly impacts our mood and performance through a theory called “enclothed cognition.” Your outfit has the power to lift your spirits and give a sense of normalcy to your day-to-day during this abnormal time. The next time you feel your thoughts start to take a downward spiral, try taking a shower, getting dressed, and maybe even doing your hair… Watch how your attitude changes!

Sit outside

Now that you’re dressed, try heading outside. Whether it be a brisk nature walk or simply soaking up the sun for a few minutes in your favorite Adirondack chair, being in nature can be extremely gratifying. Taking a few moments to listen to the serendipitous sounds of nature allows you to feel more grounded and less anxious.

Explore new things

Did you know that Cosmopolitan offers free classes on business, social media, and more through their program ExtraCurricular? Take advantage of the free time you have at home that you might not get at school during a busy semester. A simple “free online courses” Google search will reveal many online workshops, master classes, and tutorials at your disposal. Exercising your brain by exploring new topics can shift negative thought patterns and boost your mood. 

Conduct interviews

Maybe record an interview of an elderly grandparent and give the edited footage as a gift to extended family. This is one silver-lining of being stuck at home: you have time to have long conversations and deepen connections with others. Engage with your neighbors, old friends, and past teachers by listening to them. Practicing active listening helps to improve relationships, boost productivity, and increase your knowledge.

Let it out

For proud college students who are too cool to be vulnerable, letting it out can be hard, but releasing your burdens and stress is necessary for your well-being. Whether you cry in the shower, scream into a pillow, dance around the kitchen, or vent to your friend, make time to let these feelings out. Keep in mind that with COVID-19, the holidays approaching, and having been away at school for the semester, dynamics at home are often more sensitive and stressful during this time. Pent up stress often results in lashing out and disagreements. Be considerate of you and your family’s stress levels, and take a break when you need it. In the long run, it makes you, and those around you, happier. 

Being at home is supposed to be rejuvenating, not defeating. These tips may be the secret to keeping your spirits high while at home.